Bruins preseason prospects rankings: 36-21

The Boston Bruins currently enjoy strong organizational depth,
even if the team is lacking in multiple elite prospects at the top
of the future pecking order.

New England Hockey Journal unveils the 2013-14 preseason
Bruins prospect rankings on the eve of the new season, employing a
subjective assessment of players under 25 and with minimal NHL and
AHL experience. The list attempts to balance pro hockey readiness
and development with long-term ceiling and potential, but is
ultimately more of a qualitative review The scouting reports and
profiles are based on live viewings and film study of all 36
players evaluated, along with the feedback and input from NHL
scouting and front office sources and other contacts in the hockey
community.

This assessment is an independent review of where Bruins
prospects project going into the new year and is a fluid list that
will be revisited at mid-season, when the annual top-10 rankings
are published in the New England Hockey Journal’s January
2014 issue. A new, end-of-season list will come out in June, at the
conclusion of the minor pro and amateur hockey seasons.

The first of a three-part series, this iteration focuses
on the longer-term project players in the system such as University
of North Dakota goaltender Zane Gothberg and prep defenseman Wiley
Sherman (Greenwich, Conn.), who will spend his senior year at the
Hotchkiss School before heading to Cambridge and Harvard Yard next
fall. The list also features mid-to-low tier prospects currently in
Boston’s system either in the team’s Providence (AHL)
or South Carolina (ECHL) affiliates.

Left winger Justin Florek has shown significant progress
as a north-south power forward who has improved his skating since
being drafted three years ago and could be primed for a 20-plus
goal season in the AHL. Swedish forward Alex Fallstrom is another
industrious winger who impressed in a brief late-season stint with
Providence and brings the kind of smarts and character that the
Bruins prize.

With more talent and depth in Boston’s system than ever
before thanks to promising draft hauls since 2010 and a major
off-season trade that brought three prospects into the organization
from the Dallas Stars, it has never been more challenging for a
young player to earn a NHL spot with the Bruins.

Time will tell if more than a handful of the club’s nearly
40 hopefuls can ever make a real impact in Boston or will need to
go elsewhere for a better opportunity, but the future appears to be
a bright one. The Bruins are legitimate contenders and signs point
to GM Peter Chiarelli and his able staff being able to sustain that
contention in the years to come having built a solid foundation up
and down the organization.

NEHJ 2013 Boston Bruins preseason prospect rankings:
21-36

Rank/Name/Position/2012-13
Club

21. Justin Florek, LW, Providence (AHL)

Upside: After shedding a few pounds and getting
stronger, this 6-foot-4 power forward and former Northern Michigan
captain is quietly making a case to see some time in Boston. The
2010 fifth-rounder has an absolute bomb of a shot and can put it in
the net from outside the faceoff circle with his fast release. He
also goes hard to the net and uses his big frame to box out
would-be defenders. Florek won’t wow anyone with his skills,
but he will go through opponents and strong on the puck.Downside: Sluggish initial first few steps; not
an especially fast or agile skater. Although he can chip in with
goals and points, the Michigan native (Upper Peninsula) does not
possess a high offensive ceiling.

Outlook: Because of his size, power game and
work ethic, Florek is an ideal injury replacement if the team needs
him on the lower lines. He’s one more solid forward in a
crowded field of blue collar/plumber types, but like his close
friend and off-season workout partner Zach Trotman, has made a
marked improvement in his game and body since the B’s drafted
him.

22. Matthew Lindblad, C, Dartmouth College
(ECAC)/Providence (AHL)

Upside: 23-year-old undrafted free agent from
Darmouth by way of Illinois is a heady, instinctive forward with
soft hands and the vision to make plays. He is everything the
B’s thought they were getting with late 2008 draftee and
fellow Big Green forward Mark Goggin, but the team opted for the
opportunistic and wise-beyond-his-years Lindblad instead.

Downside: Possesses average size and does not
jump out at you with exceptional speed or skill; may be one of
those jack-of-all-trade, master-of-none types that are challenged
to stick at the NHL level.

Outlook: This productive (USHL, NCAA) but
unheralded forward might be a real find for the Boston scouts, who
had the benefit of being close enough to Hanover, N.H. to see him
more than others. Lindblad may top out as a third-line NHL player
at best, but that would be a major win for the B’s given his
lack of a draft pedigree. His smarts and versatility make him
one to watch in his first full pro season and beyond after
surviving the first three rounds of cuts at Bruins camp.

23. Alex Fallstrom, LW, Harvard University
(ECAC)/Providence (AHL)

Upside: This savvy Swedish defensive forward
out of Harvard plays an efficient, meat-and-potatoes game with
underrated offensive flair. His hockey sense/vision and soft hands
allow him to make plays in traffic and in front of the net, even if
he doesn’t project to be a scoring forward at the highest
level. His quick stick and tight puck handling are his best
attributes, along with a sterling work ethic.

Downside: An average skater who has improved
his heavy feet since being acquired by Boston, but may not ever get
quick and fast enough to keep up with the play at the NHL
level.

Outlook: Fallstrom is yet another solid,
unspectacular forward who plays a Bruins-style of game.
He’s got a big challenge ahead to try and crack an NHL
roster that has a surplus of similar talent, but the former
Shattuck St. Mary’s star is intelligent and motivated enough
to give it a shot.

Upside: When it comes to leadership and
intangibles like effort, attitude and selfless play, they
don’t make them much better than Cross. Along with a lean
6-foot-2 frame, a big point shot and shutdown ability, the former
BC captain and two-time NCAA champion is on a mission to prove
himself as a pro.

Downside: A major knee injury suffered the week
he was drafted in 2007 has kept Cross day-to-day for life, as his
durability will always be a question mark. He does not appear to
have the puck sense or ability to process the game quickly enough
to be the sum of some impressive physical parts.

Outlook: The 35th overall selection
in 2007 might have a shot as a bottom-pairing defender at some
point, but he looks like a long shot to become a regular in this
organization. Given Boston’s depth on defense, a change of
scenery might help Cross establish himself in the NHL and work his
way up into something more than a sixth defender.

25. Zane Gothberg, G, University of North Dakota
(WCHA)

Upside: Athletic and driven, this Minnesota
product may not be the most refined of prospects in net, but he
never quits on a play and gets every ounce out of his talent.
Gothberg is mentally tough, with the rare ability to be an ideal
starter capable of posting big numbers or an effective backup as
one who only plays occasionally, but responds with consistency.

Downside: Still raw and has plenty of
development ahead of him; has some holes in his game that need
improvement such as lateral quickness and rebound control.

Outlook: Needs to beat out Clarke Saunders and
establish himself as a No. 1 at UND in order to maximize his
playing time this season. He’s a good kid who is accountable
and doesn’t make excuses. Gothberg has long-term NHL
potential, but with players like Tuukka Rask, Niklas Svedberg and
Malcolm Subban in the system, the 21-year-old is an underdog. His
current ranking reflects the longer timeline and is not an
indictment of his skill and upside.

26. Chris Casto, D, U. Minn,-Duluth (WCHA)/Providence
(AHL)

Upside: Casto is a mobile defender with good
size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and some unvarnished offensive ability.
A high school and USHL standout before joining the UMD Bulldogs for
two seasons, Casto can pass the puck effectively and has a hard
shot. Casto will likely play his first full pro season as a
shutdown defender whose fine footwork allows him to stay with
opposing forwards and box them out away from his net.

Downside: Lack of vision and creativity capped
the NHL ceiling of a once-promising Minnesota high school product.
Given his tools, he looks every bit like a big league defender, but
may not ever be one.

Outlook: Casto has the makings of a solid depth
player and key AHL contributor, but expecting him to carve a niche
on what is a stacked position in Boston anytime soon is a tall
order.

27. Matt Benning, D, Dubuque Fighting Saints
(USHL)

Upside: The nephew of B’s GM Jim Benning
has NHL bloodlines (both father Brian and Jim played in the big
league) is a good skater and powerful, intimidating hitter despite
possessing just average height (6-foot) for the position.
Benning is a natural on defense, demonstrating an instinctive grasp
of positional play with an ability to properly activate and make
the right reads.

Downside: Lacks ideal size and projected
offensive dimension at the higher levels to be a top prospect on
paper.

Outlook: The B’s will get plenty of looks
at him as he skates for Northeastern University this season. On
some other clubs, Benning might be a top-15 prospect and even
closer to top-10 given his strong defensive game (positioning, gap
control, active stick) and surprising offense in one USHL campaign.
The B’s can and will afford to be patient with him going
forward.

Upside: Gargantuan (6-foot-6) blue liner is
still growing and will probably top out at a Hal Gill-like
6-foot-7, 250 pounds when he matures. Skates well for such a big
kid and will only get more fluid in his pivots and turns as he
improves his edgework and increases lower-leg drive. Has an
enormous reach and does a good job of forcing opponents to the
outside. Can move the puck well in space, but struggles at times
when the game closes up on him.

Downside: Does not appear to have much in the
way of offensive upside nor does he play a physical style, though
has a legitimate shot at establishing himself in the NHL one day
because of his sheer size and smarts. Returning to prep hockey for
a senior season before heading to Harvard in 2014.

Outlook: As raw as they come, the fifth-round
selection in 2013 is a lot like Rob O’Gara in that he will
take a great deal of time to develop and pay dividends. However,
the payoff could be nice down the road if he fulfills his potential
and the B’s are willing to be patient with him.

29. Mitch Dempsey, RW, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
(OHL)

Upside: The B’s think they may have
replaced the power game and scoring they lost in dealing Cody Payne
to Dallas as part of Jaromir Jagr trade. Dempsey can skate, hit,
fight, and as a former OHL first-round pick, has a modicum of
offensive talent, too. Like Payne a year ago, this could be
the time for Dempsey to break out for the Greyhounds with a bigger
role and increased production.

Downside: Dempsey has simply been unable to
stay healthy in two OHL seasons, so this is an important year for
his development. He needs to get off the IR and onto the ice to
produce and contribute. Intensity levels have wavered in the past,
so the onus is on the 210th overall selection to bring
his best effort to the rink every night.

Outlook: Don Sweeney’s nephew (his mother
his Sweeney’s sister) brings the kind of physical attributes
the Bruins covet in terms of his size (6-foot-3), snarl and promise
as a capable third-liner one day. He’s a long-term project
who has a lot to prove, but was thrilled to get drafted when he
thought it wasn’t in the cards. The pick raised eyebrows, so
it will be interesting to see what a motivated Dempsey can do in
the Soo this season.

30. Maxim Chudinov, D, St. Petersburg SKA
(KHL)

Upside: Fast, elusive skater with fine
puck-moving ability and an agitating presence that compensates for
his lack of natural size. Low center of gravity and hits like
a truck/relishes contact.

Downside: Can be undisciplined; takes himself
out of position to throw big checks and is mercurial in terms of
his effort levels. Like Yury Alexandrov, seems more comfortable and
content to remain in his native Russia and skate in the KHL rather
than try his hand in the NHL.

Outlook: 23-year-old should be ranked higher on
talent (potential top-4 in the NHL), but his position reflects the
pessimism towards his chances of signing with the Bruins anytime
soon. Of course, if Soderberg’s status can change, anything
is possible. For now, consider Chudinov still a Boston prospect,
but long shot. The B’s signing Torey Krug and drafting Matt
Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.) in 2012 speaks volumes as to where
they think Chudinov’s playing interests lie.

31. Anton Blidh, LW, Frolunda Indians (SWE-
Jr.)

Upside: Scrappy, energetic little bowling ball
of a forward crashes the net and plays am edgy, North
American-style game. Fierce competitor who never stops moving his
feet and launches himself into the play as if shot from a
cannon.

Downside: Limited skill set and hockey sense
means that Blidh does not have much of a future as anything more
than a grinder at the NHL level.

Outlook: The sixth-round pick in 2013 came out
of the same Swedish team and system that produced former Boston fan
fave and amateur scout P.J. Axelsson and could develop into a
diamond-in-the-rough find much like Axelsson did as a late-rounder
in 1995. Scouts all say the same thing about Blidh: He’s
clearly a Bruins-type of player in terms of his energy and
physicality, but he’ll have to will himself to the NHL
because his talent won’t carry him.

32. Colton Hargrove, RW, Western Michigan University
(CCHA)

Upside: Texas-born-and-bred power forward plays
with real aggression and may have some untapped upside for the long
haul. Decent hands in close; jumps on loose pucks and has a hard
shot that he can get off quickly. Does the dirty work and pays a
physical price to help his team win. May have to fight his way into
the picture as an enforcer when he turns pro.

Downside: This below average skater needs to
get considerably quicker, but is improving his first few steps and
moves fine in a straight line.

Outlook: NHL long shot, but the kind of player
who carries value in the minors as a tough-as-nails forward who is
tough to play against.

33. Rob Flick, C, Rockford/Providence (AHL)

Upside: Big (6-foot-2, 210 pounds), strong
pivot was a fourth-rounder of the Blackhawks in 2010 and plays a
physical, two-way game. Bulls his way to the net but doesn’t
have much to show for it on the score
sheet.

Downside: Limited skill-wise and undisciplined.
It is hard to see where he fits into an organization that is so
stacked at the center position.

Outlook: Flick will have a hard time getting
playing time in Providence let alone Boston, but stranger things
have happened. His best bet is to do the grinding, grunt work and
make the most of any opportunities he gets.

34. Tyler Randell, RW, South Carolina (ECHL)/Providence
(AHL)

Upside: Skilled enough to post multiple 20-goal
seasons in the OHL, Randell showed interesting potential as a
nasty, banging power forward who is a tough fighter with
surprisingly soft hands. Randell once scored four goals in a 2012
OHL playoff game, so he can find the back of the net, but has yet
to translate any real production in the pro ranks.

Downside: Lacks the skating and quickness to be
much more than a lower-end minor leaguer. His work ethic has not
impressed his coaches enough to earn longer stays in the AHL to
date.

Outlook: Unless the B’s are looking for
pure muscle and toughness, there doesn’t appear to be much of
a future for Randell in Boston. He can rehabilitate his stock by
earning a full-time job in Providence this season, but with Bobby
Robins handling the bulk of the enforcer duties there, it’s
tough to justify a roster spot without the requisite intensity and
dedication expected.

35. Adam Morrison, G, South Carolina/Utah
(ECHL)

Upside: With ideal size at 6-foot-3 and a great
attitude, everyone would like to see this free agent pickup and
former third-round pick by the Flyers in 2009 succeed in Boston.
When on his game, plays a polished, fundamentally sound butterfly
style with good positioning on his angles, giving opponents very
little to shoot at.

Downside: Morrison is an enigma: the British
Columbia native showed immense physical tools, which got him
drafted 61st overall, but then regressed in his
development, only emerging as a WHL star after the Flyers opted not
to sign him. He will go through periods where he alternates between
looking like a brick wall and being unable to stop a
muskmelon.

Outlook: Like former B’s prospect Mike
Hutchinson (since signed with Winnipeg), Morrison’s biggest
issue is a lack of consistency, and he has yet to establish himself
as a capable starter even at the ECHL level. Until he can do that,
there is little use of discussing a viable NHL future, at least not
in Boston, given the team’s depth chart at present.

36. Ben Sexton, C, Clarkson University
(ECAC)

Upside: A fine skater who is a smart and
versatile two-way center, Sexton has been a point-per-game player
in the NCAA when he’s been in the lineup for the Golden
Knights.

Downside: Has not been able to stay healthy for
a prolonged period of time since breaking into the college ranks.
His Nepean Raiders (OPJHL) coach, former NHL defenseman and Bruin
Garry Galley, told New England Hockey Journal several years ago
that injuries would be an obstacle for Sexton to overcome, and thus
far, he’s been unable to do so.

Outlook: Will need a tremendous senior season
at Clarkson to earn a contract. Solid two-way center in junior and
the NCAA, but may simply not bring enough upside, durability to go
into the system on an NHL deal for Boston.